Our Camping Adventure

The base rents travel trailers (camping trailers) and we decided to take advantage of the cheap rentals. John's family planned a camping trip to Goose Island State Park in Rockport, Texas and we had a great time.

Rockport is on the Texas coast about 3 hours from San Antonio. Going there, we took the scenic route which added some time (OK, a lot of time) to the ride. The route we took, took us right along the coast. Since I've never been to the Texas coast before, I was pretty excited to see everything. On the ride there, I even got to see wind turbines. I've seen the un-assembled parts being driven through town. Those things are huge. Too bad I didn't get to see any up close.

John got to do a lot of fishing. Nothing worth keeping but he had fun none the less. There even was a dolphin that came up to the pier and hung out. I begged John to catch him for me but he refused. Just think, we could have had our own personal Sea World in our back yard. We could charge admission for people to feed it and swim with it. How cool would that have been?

We spent time at the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi (about a 45 minute drive from Rockport). Mary loves aquariums! I was encouraged about billboards stating that this was a budget friendly destination. I'm guessing this was advertised to people with bigger budgets. Compared to other destinations, such as Sea World or Six Flags, it was a lot cheaper. Oh well, we paid our money and had fun. It was very crowded! Barely had enough room to walk around and really enjoy the place.

After the aquarium, we decided to stop by the Big Tree that was near the state park we were staying at. I figured we could just stop and take a few pictures to say we were there. We got there at a good time; while we were taking pictures and park ranger pulled up and said he was going to open the gate so we could all get up close to the tree. The Big Tree is one of the oldest trees in Texas - over 1,000 years old. We were very lucky to get to see this tree up close.








Mary got to go to the beach for the first time. It took us a while to find a beach. It seemed like Rockport was full of fishing piers and not much of the sandy beaches. We finally found one. The beach was very different from NY beaches. In NY, you can walk out 10 feet and the water would be over your head. In Texas, you can walk out almost 1/4 of a mile and the water was only above your knee. I enjoyed playing in the waves. Mary enjoyed watching the waves and seeing sea gulls. Each time she saw a gull, she would point at it.





We really enjoyed our trip to the coast. One day, we hope to have a travel trailer of our own. We're hoping to go away for Labor Day weekend; just need to find a place to go.

The Weekend

John has been doing a program called TOP Star these past two weeks. Basically its for medical professionals (in the Air Force, active or reserve) who do not get much hospital experience. The first week is refresher training and the second week is at the hospital. John got to work at my old unit, Same Day Surgery. He seemed to enjoy his stay. Friday was his last day and he was home by 11 am.

Since he got home so early, we decided to something as a family. We have season passes to Sea World and to the zoo. Since Mary and I were already at Sea World this week, we decided on the zoo. We left the house in the early afternoon.

Mary and I have never ridden the zoo train. Its a little train that goes around Brackenridge Park. Its part of the zoo but not inside the zoo. We parked our stroller in the stroller parking area (with all the other strollers) and bought our tickets.

The train ride was only about 20 minutes long. We went over the San Antonio River and saw the golf course. Nothing really exciting. I'm sure Mary would have enjoyed it more if she was a bit older.

When we got off the train to get out stroller, it wasn't there. Someone stole our stroller! There was another family whose stroller was stolen too. Zoo security arrived and they called the park police. We both filed a report. The other family had a small diaper bag that had a cell phone in it. We didn't leave anything in our stroller. It was our big Graco stroller (the other family's was an umbrella stroller).

We decided to go in the zoo to see if we could find it. The security guard was nice and was able to get us free stroller rentals (the zoo strollers suck!). While walking, the other family found their stroller abandoned, minus the bag. Since ours was a very nice, expensive stroller, we didn't find ours. I'm sure they just took it and left.

We needed to get a double stroller anyway, but now all we have is our umbrella stroller. Its not as nice or cushy. It doesn't recline. It doesn't ride as nice. I'm really upset and I cried all the way home. Right now the umbrella stroller is with the babysitter and we'll pick it up tomorrow.

Saturday, we hung around and cleaned. We went to the grocery store. Nothing exciting. That night, we went to the neighbor across the street's birthday party. Abby turned 4. Mary enjoyed playing with all the kids. We left a little before 10. Mary passed right out.

We relaxed today and didn't go to church. We pretty much hung around all day watching a Man vs. Food marathon. There was a 7 pound burger; 4 pounds of meat, 2 pounds of bun and 1 pound of toppings. He didn't finish it (he had an hour). John made beef fajitas and Mike and Bekki came over to join us. They just got back from a 2 week trip to Minnesota and Oklahoma (they drove; they're crazy!). Both Mary and Evelyn received gifts; stuffed animals from Concordia College (Bekki's alma mater) and a bottle and sippy cup from Oklahoma University (Mike's favorite college team; Boomer Sooners!). We were also gifted with a pack of Minnesota wild rice and a sun catcher.

Also this weekend, we bought Mary a lease. Pretty pink one from Pet Smart. No...its a monkey back pack version. She wears the monkey as a back pack and its tail is the lease. She is in the phase where she wants to walk and be free but will run the first chance she gets. Its not easy running after a toddler when your 7 months pregnant.

That was our weekend. If anyone can recommend a good double stroller, please let me know. I'm thinking about the Sit and Stand double stroller (the one that actually has a seat in the back that later converts to the sit and stand portion). Later on, we'll probably have to get a double umbrella stroller as well.

No big plans for the week. Just going to hang out with Aunt Bekki. Possibly call a pediatric clinic to interview. Hope you guys have a great week!

Ponies, Penguins, and Sea Lions, Oh My!

We had a cold front today. At 10:30, it was only 86 degrees. Mary and I decided to take advantage of the over cast weather and put our season tickets to Sea World to good use. Honestly, Mary had no choice in the decision; shes a baby and I have a car. I think Mary knew where we were because she was quite excited when we walked through the parking lot. This is the fourth time we've been to Sea World, so I know what she likes. First stop, ponies (Budweiser Clydesdales). Mary was quite upset when I put her back into her stroller after we saw all the ponies. Then it was off to see Dolphins and the Coral Reef. She loves them fishes! We decided to make our way to see Shamu but the show already started and it was standing room only. Mary honestly could care less about Shamu. It started getting a bit warmer, so we decided to find the only air conditioned place in the whole park; the penquin exhibit. Mary really enjoys seeing the penquins and puffins. Then we decided to see something we never went to before; the sea lion enclosure. We've seen the show but never their pool. Well, the sea lion might be Mary's new favorite animal. I think she likes them because they bark. She was pretty pissed when we left. But then we got chicken tenders and everything was all better. I decided to call it a day after lunch. Since ponies is right near the entrance/exit, we decided to see them again. They usually have a pony out for photo oppurtunities but we never go to it because I thought you had to buy a picture. Well, you don't. You also can pet the pony. Mary thought that was hysterical! Every time she touched him, she would burst out laughing. The picture they took was cute but not $17 cute. Maybe next time. Mary passed out on the ride home. Hooray for sleepy babies! Today, the temp didn't go past 100. Hooray for clouds!

Here are some pictures from my blackberry. They suck but you get the picture...

If you look closely, you can see teeth...

She really enjoys the flamingos...

Hooray Fishes! (another a look closely teeth picture)

Ok....

So...I've decided to give this blog thing a try...again. I'm sure none of you knew I had a blog in the first place. The main point was to post pictures of Mary. She wasn't even born at the time. Here we are a year later. Maybe now I can set this up since Evelyn will be here in about 2 months are so (HOLY CRAP!). I'm going to try to put some pictures on this thing today. Maybe pictures from my phone that not many people get to see (unless your on my facebook). Have a good day everyone!

Our Blog!

We (well, Kim) decided to make a blog to update everyone on us and our little one on the way. They'll be more to follow!